PipoBeats – Tocalo

By starrymag | January 13, 2022

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) As a Spanish and English speaker, in what ways has that influenced your songwriting style?

 

A) Hi and thank you for this interview. Well, I’m blessed to speak both English and Spanish and, as a result, it has opened a world of creativity beyond my words.  I find myself feeling different emotions depending on what language I decide to write in. When singing in Spanish my music has always been more festive and upbeat and when singing in English it can be both, upbeat and moody, but it also tends to sway towards themes of love. For example, If I produce a Spanglish song it tends to be more upbeat, danceable, fun. If I write in English, I tend to be more romantic, more of a love song.  And, again, it all depends on the mood I’m in for writing what style music that day.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your single “Tocalo.”

 

A) The new single “Tocalo” is a very special track, considering the fact that it was the first song I wrote after winning “Songland.” There is definitely a lot of festive energy in “Tocalo!” When I began composing the single, I happened to be visiting parts of the country with a lot of nature which may explain why there was much more of a jungle vibe.  The song idea came as a reference to our primal roots mixed with nature and the vibe you get when you meet someone and feel a strong connection with. We threw it back to the caveman days and the song “Tocalo” was born! I know that sounds a bit unconventional!

 

Q) What aspect was it that challenged you the most to create with this track?

 

A) To be completely honest, there wasn’t one single part of the creation process that was exceptionally challenging. Every time I envision an idea for a song, I feel like a strong force takes over me and the song comes pouring out. The biggest challenge I had was producing the music video. The video took a few days to shoot and sometimes we had to work through the night because it was so labor intensive—taking about a hundred hours to edit.

 

Q) What kind of fan reaction have you been receiving to the song since its release?

 

A) I’ve been receiving great reviews and creating many new fans. “Tocalo” has been played on many radio stations in Spanish-speaking countries.  At the end of the day, what is most important to me is that I’m able to make people happy or make them feel special when they listen to my music. I believe that’s my purpose in life, to touch people’s hearts via my music.

 

Q) I love the tambourine and bongos! What inspired the addition of these instruments?

 

A) I wanted to make the song sound wild and primal, and the addition of those instruments really helped me do that. I wanted listeners to feel like they had been transported to a different place when they heard the song.

 

Q) You also recently released the song “I’m Thinking When” with Caroline Kole. How did you come to collaborate?

 

A) I’ll give you the short version of this crazy story. I was fifteen years old in high school and was looking for a female singer on Instagram that had a great personality and could sing. After searching for hours, I found Caroline Kole. She was beautiful and very talented! We briefly talked about a collaboration but somehow it got put on the backburner and we lost communication. Years later I ended up bumping into Caroline when we were both contestants on “Songland.” It was unreal! After our “Songland” participation and before her return back to Nashville, we decided to finally collab. She came over to my studio and we recorded the song “I’m Thinking When.”

 

Q) Are there any plans for a full-length album or EP?

 

A) You read my mind! Yes!  As we speak, I’m literally running on four hours of sleep simply because I’m so excited about releasing a full album!  Due to my Spanish influences, I am writing a Spanish album with some Spanglish songs. This project is unlike other projects since many songs will be Reggaeton style. If you’re unfamiliar with the genre – Reggaeton mixes Jamaican with reggae with Latin American influences of music. This style of music is very upbeat and fun to dance to. So – get ready for the real Reggaeton!

 

Q) Since appearing on “Songland,” have you stayed in touch with Luis Fonsi?

 

A) Working with Luis and the “Songland” team; Ryan Tedder, Shane McAnally, and Easter Dean was a huge honor. Yes, I’ve spoken to his team about some tracks, but the truth is, I have been working nonstop on my upcoming album.  After the album is out, who knows? Maybe in the near future I will be working with Luis again. Hopefully, other artists I look up to as well– Daddy Yankee, Rauw Alejandro and JBalvin among others.

 

Q) With concerts returning, do you have any plans to start touring in the near future?

 

A) Absolutely! I love touring and visiting different places.  As of this moment, I hope to finish my album in early 2022 and then begin to book shows in the U.S. and, of course, in Mexico and all way down to Chile. Stay tuned!

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and the music you make?

 

A) Thank you for listening to my music!  Thank you for your support!  And remember– we are here on this earth for a reason! Listen to your heart because you have a purpose!  My aspirations are to make the best possible music so you can enjoy it! So, get ready for some great music!  I love you all!